Locomotive stoker



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Aug. 12, 1941. H. A. HOKE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Jan. l5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HI ...QBN

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 12, 1941. H. A. HOKE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Jan. 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvVENToR; Harry ioke ATTORNEYS.

no. Fumwsil y.; Aug. l2, 1941.

IH. A. HOKE LQCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Jan. l5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR; 57m/ry foke,

ATTORNEYS.

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--Aug. 12, 1941.

H. A. HOKE 2,252,599

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed Jan. l5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 III la A TTORNE YS.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Harry A. Hoke, Altoona, Pa., assignor to The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 15, 1940, Serial No. 313,804

2 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel stokers and, more particularly, to the mechanical species used on locomotives for feeding coal to the front and/or rear ends of the grate so as to effect the uniform distribution and complete consumption of said coal.

With some locomotive stokers of the type referred to, the coal is either delivered to the firebox through the grates by means of an elevator tube, which carries said coal up to the bottom level of the fire door opening; or the coal is elevated to the fire door behind the back-head and is then discharged through the re door to the grate. In other cases the elevator is located at the front end of the grate and discharges coal towards the rear thereof. The first and last mentioned types of stoker are objectionable due to the fact that the grate area must be reduced, and further that the heat in the front part of the fire-box becomes so intense that warping of the adjoining structure frequently occurs.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the noted disadvantages by providing a type of locomotive stoker embodying refinements which overcome the objectionable characteristics of prior art structures, and wherein the coal is economically supplied to the firing table and distributed over the grate in an efficient manner so that a fuller combustion thereof results, with resultant utilization of the heat energy in a better manner than generally obtains with known stokers of similar character.

Another object is to serve or deliver the coal from a firing table located exterior of the locomotive throat sheet and fire-box, in order that the grate area may remain intact or be not reduced; while the prevailing wastage of insufiiciently burnt fine coal, usually carried up and out of the locomotive stack, is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of this invention is a novel .neans whereby desirable changes in the elevation of coal projection to the fire-bed may be variably controlled and thereby better conform with different depths of such fire-beds.`

Still further objects and ancillary advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, as the nature thereof is more fully explained, said invention consisting substantially in certain novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts later on fully disclosed, and illustrated by the accompanying sheets of drawings, which show preferred embodiments, wherein corresponding reference characters are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views; while the concluding claims more concisely express the features of novelty.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken part section and part elevation of the rear end of a locomotive fire-box and associated stoker equipment in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 1a is a similar illustration, in continuation of the right-hand of the preceding ligure, showing a forward portion thereof including the throat-sheet, as well as the fuel elevator-pipe and a tiltable firing-table.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the plane II-II in Fig. la.

Fig. 3 is a plan section, taken as indicated by the arrows III--III in Fig. 1a.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section conforming somewhat with the right-hand middle portion of Fig. 1a, but showing the firing-table extended well into the fire-box and provided with deflecting webs effective to deliver the coal to the corners of the lire-box.

Fig. 5 is a plan section, taken approximately as indicated by the arrows V-V in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view simulating Fig. 4, but showing a modified form of lift pipe with a relatively reduced length of firing-table; and,

Fig. 7 is a plan section, taken as indicated by the arrows VII-VII in Fig. 6.

In the following detailed explanation of the embodiments of this invention illustrated by the accompanying four sheets of drawings, specific terms will be employed for the sake of clarity, but it is to be understood that such terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Each specific term is intended to include all technical equivalents capable of serving in a similar capacity to accomplish an analogous purpose.

In the drawings, the numeral I comprehensively designates a broken portion of the firebox of a conventional type locomotive; 2 the grate; 3 the back end; 4 the throat sheet; 5 the sides; 6 the ash-pan; and 1 the ash discharge gates: all of said parts being in accordance with known constructions, and herein solely referred to for the purpose of providing a proper background in explaining the instant invention.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l-3, inclusive, the forward end of the locomotive and tender intermediate conduit is designated by the reference numeral 8, said conduit being coupled by a ball-and-socket joint 9 with the locomotive conduit I0, which is supported by spaced hangers Il, attached by securing means l2 to the locomotive grate supports I3. The conduit I0, it will be noticed, extends from below the locomotive cab deck I4 to a point just rearwards of the throatrheet 4, or forwardly through the ash-pan front wall I5, where it is fitted with an elbow I6, into which sockets the lower end of an elevator pipe I1. Y

The intermediate conveyor-screw is designated I8, and it is coupled by a universal joint I9 to the locomotive similar screw 20, said latter screw extending forwardly to a convenient point in the elbow I6 for elevation of the coal to the firingtable, comprehensively characterized 2l, and which is preferably inclined to the horizontal, see Fig. 1a. It will, of course, be understood the tender intermediate and nre-box conveyor screws I8 and 20 are operatively coordinated with an appropriate Stoker engine, not shown, mounted preferably on the locomotive tender. The ringtable 2I, as best understood from Fig. 3, cornprises a semi-annular rear part 22 conveniently provided with apertured lugs 23 for pivotal connection, as by hinge pins 24, between spaced tabs 25 integral with angularly-contoured spacedlyrelated forward stationary-sections 26, between which pass the steam pipes 2'I for supplying the jet device 28. Incidentally, the elevator pipe I1 is preferably of a composite cross-section in the upper part, that is to say the rear portion is semi-circular, while the forward portion 29 is rectangular and provided with a central recess 30, for reception of the positioning flange 3| of the jet device 28; while said elevator pipe II is formed with a flanking and rear, top ange 32. It is also observable the firing-table semi-annular part 22 projects rearwards into a rectangular opening 33 through the throat-sheet 4; while said semi-annular part 22 is variously inclinable relative to the stationary-sections 26 by means of an adjuster-screw 34 engaged through a lug 35 integral with the elevator pipe rear part; said screw contacting the underside of the annular part 22, whereby the coal elevated to the latter can be projected by the jet device 28 to the desired region of the fire-bed on the grate 2, in an obvious manner.

Particular attention is here directed to the fact that the ring-table 2|, as well as the elevator pipe I'I, are both located outside the rebox I and substantially so with respect to the throat sheet 4, so as to be free of exposure to the intense heat in said fire-box. In this connection the upper part of the elevator pipe I1 and firing-table 2| are enclosed in a suitable housing 36 secured forwardly to the throat sheet 4, as clearly understandable from Fig. 1a.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, all parts having equivalents in the preceding description are designated by like characters of reference, to obviate ,unnecessary repetitive explanation; it being noticeable the distinguishing characteristics of this form of the invention consist in eztv tending the adjustable rear part 22 so that it projects well through the throat sheet opening 33 into the lire-box I, and that it is furnished, on the upper face, with vertically-directed and rearwardly inclined angularly-spaced defiector webs 31, serviceable to direct and deliver the coal from the firing-table 2| to the rear corners of said fire-box.

In the further modification of Figs. 6 and 7, the elevator pipe I1' is partially angled rearwards, as indicated at 38, relative to the elbow I6, in order to reduce the over-all length of the ring table 2l, while the semi-annular adjustable section of the latter is provided with spaced deflector webs 39 functional 'to direct the discharged coal more evenly over the entire re-bed on the grate 2, as well as into the forward corners thereof.

From the foregoing, it is thought the merits and advantages of this invention will be clearly apparent, but it is desired to emphasize the characterizing features of feeding coal to the front end of the grate through an aperture in the throat sheet 4, so that the grate area is not reduced, or interfered with; the feeding of the larger and line coal is effected jointly with practically no wastage of the finer particles; the distribution of the coal over the fire-bed is more efficiently carried out than heretofore possible with similar stokers; while the conveyor screw 20, elevator pipe and firing-table being exterior of the fire-box substantially lengthens the serviceability of such parts, as the nre-box heat can not damage them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a locomotive re box stoker of the front end fuel feed type and including a conduit with a forward elbow beyond the fire box throat sheet, the combination of an elevator pipe engageable in said elbow, said pipe having the upper rear portion semi-circular and the forward portion of rectangular cross-section with a central recess, stationary forward and flanking angularly contoured spacedlyrelated ring table sections to define a medial opening outwardly relative to the top of the elevator pipe, and a rearwardly directed lug projecting from the semi-circular portion of said pipe below the top thereof; a rearward semi-annular ring table section fulcrumed to the forward end portions of the rst mentioned table section; and adjuster means carried by the elevator pipe lug vaforesaid operative to incline the semi-annular ring table section relative to the plane of the stationary section.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the firing table rear section is extended for projection throughthe throat sheet opening into the fire box, and said section embodies vertically directed angularly spaced fuel deector webs having the upper edges downwardly inclined relative to the horizontal from their forward edges.

HARRY A. HOKE. 

